St Ives leisure centre re-fit plan revealed but no room for gun club

A SHOOTING club in St Ives is under fire as Huntingdonshire District Council reveal plans to renovate ‘out of date’ leisure centre.

But there will be no room at the Huntingdonshire District Council-run facility in Westwood Road for the St Ives (District) Rifle and Pistol Club, which needs to find a new home.

HDC has plans to demolish the existing entrance to the centre and replace it with a function room, office, restaurant and a fitness suite, but the scheme also includes turning the rifle range into a five-lane bowling alley.

Terry Smith, the shooting club's secretary, said: "It will be the end of the club or a bright new beginning. We have been here for 37 years and the council gave us £37,500 to set the club up, so we feel there is a moral cause for them to support us.

"We'll have to find a place to set up a range that complies with Home Office regulations - you can't just go into somewhere and start shooting."

Other changes at the centre will see the Impressions Fitness Studio and Taurus Weights Room combined on the second floor, new disabled changing and shower cubicles built, and two aerobic studios created.